The National Economic Council (NEC) has gotten position reports on the establishment of State police from the 36 state chief executives.
The NEC meeting was led by Vice President Kashim Shettima and attended by state chief executives, deputy chief executives, ministers and a few presidential aides.
Briefing State House Correspondents soon after the meeting which went on for over 4 hours, Lead Representative Uba Sani of Kaduna State said the state chief executives displayed an overwhelming support for the establishment of state police in light of the security challenges tormenting their states.
Be that as it may, he said the NEC deferred deliberation on the matter to January 2024.
“Virtually every state has its own peculiar security challenges, and many agree that state police is the way forward,” Sani stated.
“Today, the council decided to step down the discussion until the next meeting to allow for further deliberation and the presentation of a report from the NEC secretariat.”
The chief executive underscored the pressing need for advanced security measures, referring to ungoverned spaces across the nation and a critical lack of personnel in federal security agencies, including the police and armed forces.
“The establishment of state police will help address these gaps, particularly in states grappling with unique security issues,” he said.
He likewise disclosed that the secretariat has focused on engaging stakeholders further before the council’s January meeting, where a comprehensive report will be presented.
On the issue of flooding, the National Economic Council endorsed the disbursement of more funds to state governments where recent flood disasters had ravaged communities, leading to loss of lives and properties.
NEC said the endorsement would empower the affected states to provide adequate financial supports to the victims.
In the meantime, the NEC has also endorsed 0.05% of non-oil federation revenue as funding for the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).
Declaring the resolution after Thursday’s meeting, Anambra State Chief Executive, Chukwuma Soludo, expressed that the decision followed a report presented by RMAFC on November 21, which featured funding difficulties faced by the commission.
“RMAFC plays a vital role in ensuring equitable revenue allocation across the federation, but it has been operating under significant financial constraints,” Governor Soludo explained.
The council reviewed RMAFC’s proposal for 0.75% of non-oil assets, however endorsed 0.05%, subject to additional examination by the National Assembly. This allotment is important for more extensive tax reforms currently under consideration.
In addition to the funding approval, NEC directed RMAFC to submit a draft repeal-and-replace bill to the National Assembly to modernize its overseeing legislation and align it with the developing financial realities of the nation.
Lead Representative Soludo emphasized the importance of these measures, noting, “This institution carries critical responsibilities in the functioning of our federation.
“Adequate funding and an updated legal framework are essential to empower RMAFC to meet its obligations effectively.”
